STEPHEN FOSTER MEMORIAL DAY – January 13
Fri Jan 13th

Stephen Foster Memorial Day

On January 13th, Stephen Foster Memorial Day honors the music of the man who composed hundreds of America's first hit songs.

Stephen Foster, born in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania, on July 4, 1826, became America's First Composer. His catchy tunes based on minstrel songs are still popular today.

Despite Foster's exclusive music contract with Firth, Pond, and Company, he died at the age of 37, penniless. Although his songs were extremely popular, he was left with no value to show for his work despite the fact that copyright protection and alcoholism were both lacking.

***During his short life, Foster wrote over 200 songs. His best-known compositions include "Oh! Susanna," "Camptown Races," "Old Folks at Home," "My Old Kentucky Home," "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair," "Old Black Joe," and "Beautiful Dreamer" and are still very popular today.

Foster died in 1864 at the age of 37 on January 13, 1864.

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Read more about Stephen Foster's life or watch a documentary. Listen to some of his songs.. It's likely that some of it is surprising. How many of them do you really know? How many do you know? Check out our suggestions below: Check out our recommendations:

  • Ken Emerson's Doo-dah! by Ken Emerson
  • Stephen Collins Foster's Life by Ellen Hunter Ulken is a beautiful dreamer
  • Read about Stephen Foster's music's African American influence on Stephen Foster's music

On social media, use #StephenFosterMemorialDay to post.

A stephen foster memorial day is the oldest in the United States' stephen foster memorial day tradition

President Stephen Foster Memorial Day and President Harry S. Truman declared the observance on Sunday, January 13, 1952, on October 27, 1951, marking January 13th Stephen Foster Memorial Day and President Harry S. Truman's proclaimed the observance.

Stephen foster FAQ

Is Stephen Foster's songs in the public domain? Yes, yes. Foster's songs may be performed, recorded, or published without permission, although Foster sold the rights to his songs in 1857 to his publishers, today, Foster's songs may be performed, recorded, or published without permission.

Q. Was Stephen Foster inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame? Yes, yes. Stephen Foster was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.

Q. What was Stephen Foster's last song? Just two weeks before his death, A. Stephen Foster wrote "Beautiful Dreamer" on his website.